Steam-engine.



No. 746,626; PATENTED DEO. 8, 1903.

` W. DIETER.

Y STEAM ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4. 1903.

NO MODEL` 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

PATBNTED DEC. 8, 190g.

DIETER.

STEAM ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4, 190s,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 NO MODEL.

Patented December 8, 1903.

mi "T1 1 @ericht WILLIAM DIETER, OFKNEW YORK, N. Y.

S'i'AilJl-ENGiNE.

SPECIFICAEXON forming part of Letters Patent No. 746,626, dated December 8, 1903.

Application led .Tune 4, 1908. Serial No. 160,029. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may cm1/cern:

Be itknown tirati, WILLIAM DIETER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn', city of New York, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Steam-Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My invention relates to steam-engines, and more particularly to a type thereof employing a plurality of cylinders.

The object of the invention is to provide a steam-engine which will be simple in construction and which in setting up will require no fine adjustment or fitting of parte nor nice setting of the valve mechanism nor readjustment thereof owing to wear or the replacement of worn parts.

A further object is to provide a steam-engine wherein the steam in the cylinders will be largely exhausted at the end of the direct stroke to reduce the cushioning effect within the cylinder and wherein said cushion will be separately exhausted 'and controlled to economize power and to insure a steadiness of parts and avoid undue vibration of the engine in running.

A further object is to provide an exhauststeam chamber which will also serve as amuifle and which will be so arranged relative to the exhaust-ports as to prevent the clogging thereof through condensation within said chamber or an accumulation of water from cylinderl condensation.

A further object is to provide an engine of this type having the steam and exhaust ports adjacent to each other, wherein said ports will communicate with the cylinder through a common channel and wherein the working parts of the valves for said ports will be so constructed and arranged to require no packing against boiler-pressure and wherein any leakage will be conveyed into the exhauststeam chamber. l

A still further object is to provide an engine wherein said valves are compactly arranged and to provide means whereby they will be actuated from a single cam-shaft.

A still further object is to provide an engine wherein `the cylinder, the steam-chest,

and the exhaust-steam chamber will be so disposed relative to each other as to be capable of being :nadeln a single casting and finished with comparative ease 'and at small expense.`

A still further object is to provide an engine the valve-seats of which will require no lubrication and the cylinders of which will be 6o lubricated automatically without employing oil-cups therefor.

Theinvention consistsinprovidingasteamengine comprising a group of cylinders, an

exhaust-steam chamber surrounding all said cylinders, said cylinders respectively having a steam-port, a valve'therefor, a piston having an elongated trunk, ports in each cylinder controlled by said piston discharging into said exhaust-steam chamber, a cushion-con- 7o trolling exhaust-port, a valve therefor, and means for4 actuating said steam and said exhaust valves, and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and deing my invention, showing one of the cylin- 8o ders and the upper portion of the valve mechanism in section and said valves and the lower portion of said valve mechanism in elevation. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof, showing one cylinder in elevation and the valve mechanism therefor in section, another cylinder in section, and the other cylinder in elevation with the valve mechanism removed and the exhaust-steain-chamber cap-plate removed,

the piston-rods and valve mechanism appear- 9o ing only in relation to one cylinder. Fig. El is a horizontal section of the cylinder-casting. Fig. a is an enlarged view of the upper portion of the valve mechanism and valves, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan View of the rock- 95 ing yoke forming a part of said valve mechanisrn.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In steam-engines of this type the various roo parte appartenant to cach cylinder are duplicated and inthe following, in the interests of brevity, adescription of but ono set of parts will be entered into, except where a part is common to all cylinders or it is purposed to so construct several elements as to necessarily require adetailed description of the whole.

In the drawings, A indicates the cylinders. A plurality of such cylinders are employed and preferably they are all formed at a single casting with other parts, as will more fully appearhereinafter. Secured tosaidcylindercasting is a closed crank-casing B, in `which are arranged the main crank-shaft C, the camshaft I), the transmission gearing E, and cranks F, all of which are flooded within said casing and when running dash the oil so as to lnbricate themselves and the several cylinders.

Thf.` transrnission-gearing- E comprises spurgears E' and E2, mounted on the shafts C and D, respectively, of equal diameter7 and an intermediate spur-gear E3, which arrangement insures a synchronous action of the crank and the cam-shafts.

The pistons G are of ordinary construction, having-a long guide-trunk and the usual packing-rings.

II indicates the piston-rods.

Preferably I provide a steam chest a common to all the cylinders A and disposed slightly above and to one side of said cylinders. Separate channels a communicate with each cylinder and are in communication with the said steam-chest through steanrperts co2, having seats thereon for puppet-valves.

Each cylinder A is provided with a main exhaust-port b, so arranged as to be normally closed by the trunk of the piston and opened at substantially the end of the direct stroke of said pistons G. rlhe ports are disposed. on opposite sides ot' each cylinder and discharge into an exhaust-steam chamber c entirely surrounding all the cylinders contigo ous io said ports. I also provide what I term a cushion-controlling exhaust-valve, closinit,r an exhaust-port (l in communication with the channel d and discharfin r into an extension c of the exhaust-steam chamber c. Said port is provided with a valve-seat for a puppet-valvealso. rlhesaidsteamandsaidcushioncontrolling valveports are in vertical alinemeut and the valves closing same, as well as the mechanism actuating said valves, which require such an arrai'igement of ports will be more fully described hereinafter.

rlhe cylinders A, the exhaust-Steam chamber c, the steam-chest a, channel a/, and the extension c of said exhaust-steam chamber are all preferably made of a single casting having core-openings, as c and f, to facilitate the castingprocess and also the handling and finishing of the said casting. These openings are closed by screw-threaded plugs e or face-platesf". The openings fare designated, primarily, to permit the portsin the cylinder b to be drilled in the casting in a convenient and inexpensive mannerby working through the said openings, the possibility of which manner oi.' produciu,r is apparent from Figs. 2 and 3.

By having the exhaust-steam chamberc entirely surrounding'the cylindersI increase the capacity of this chamber to an extent to cause it to act as a muie also, and the steam passing through the outlets c2 makes little or no noise upon its discharge into the atmosphere. Preferably the lower level of the chamber c is below that of the portsb to prevent the water accumulation from condensation Within said cylinders or said chamber from choking or otherwise interfering with said ports.

A puppet-valve g closes the exhaust-port d and is carried by or made integral with a hollow valve-stem g', mounted in a bearing provided in a closure-plug h, secured to the cylinder casting. The said hollow stem passes through the extension c of the exhaust-steam chamber and is disposed directly above the cam-shaft D, from which said valve is operated. A second puppet-valve closes the steam-port a2 and is carried by or .made integral with a slidingvalve-stem, preferably comprised of two independent sections fr" i2, mounted in the hollow valve-stem g2. For lconvenience of expression hereinafter the said stem actuating the valve'g and the said stem actuating the valve i will b e designated, respectively, the steam and the cushion-controlling valve-stems. It Will be observed that said stems are concentric and work along substantially the same line of force. Beneath said valve-stems g' t" [2 is a castingj, carried by the casing B, which is provided with parallel vertical bearings therein, one of which is in alinement with said stems and with an offset bearingj'. Mounted in the said vertical bearings are what I term cam-pins 7 7c la', which are movable vertically therein. One of these pins,as 7c,is in direct engagement with the steam valve-stem, and the other pin, as it', indirectly actuates the cushion-controlling valve-stem by means of a rocking yoke l, journaled in the oiset bearings/i, the opposite arms l Z2 of which extend into engagement, respectively, with the pin lo and the cushion-controlling valvestem g. The latter arm Z2, as shown in Fig. 5, is bifurcated to give clearance of the steam valve-stein i2, and the contacting faces of both said arms with the pin k and the stem g are curved to facilitate a smooth action at this point. the opposed face of the arm l' are extended to give more extended wear-faces.

The various pins and stems heretofore referred to are made a fairly loose sliding fit, so as to avoid the necessity for providing means for oiling these parts.

Each valve mechanism is actuated by means of a set of cams 'm m' m2 m3 n n n2 'n3 carried ou the cam-shaft D and arranged in pairs so spaced apart as to have the members of cach pair engage, respectively, the campins 7l: it. The valvemotion is controlled solely through the said set of cams and consequently the dilerent speeds and the re- The lower face of the stem g'and- IIO verse, as Well as the neutral or cut-off, may be so controlled. To control the engine, therefore, any desired means may be employed to shift the cam-shaft D laterally to cause different' cams to act upon said pins l; lr. Such mechanism and its inode of operation being well known in this'art, it is not herein shown nor described.

Steam is admitted tothe steam-chest a through the steam-pipe o.

All contacting faces of the above-described valve-controlling mechanism are preferably hardened to prevent undue wear on else hardened contact-points are secured thereto.

In a steanrengine constructed as above it is unnecessary to pack the various parts against steam leakage. The pistons G are, as heretofore stated, provided with the ordinary piston-rings, and the only other point at which leakage is possible is between the cushion-controlling valve-stem and the steam valve-stem t" i?, with puppet-valves there is substantially no Wear on the valveseats to cause leakage there. To guard against the leakage tirst mentioned as much as possible, l dish out the upper face of the cushioncontrolling valve g at g2 to form a waterpackingabout the steam valve-stem c" Where it enters said hollow stein g'. ItA is found, however, that there is always a slight leakage at this point, and to dispose of this I provide what may he termed a supplementalexhaust,7 consisting of a small recess g3, formed on the inside ofthe cushion-controlling valvesiem g, which discharges into the chamber c' through openings (fin said stem. Hence any leakage is discharged into the general exhaust-chamber. The closure-plug` h is similarly dished out about the said cushion-controlling valve-stem to form a water-packing against.exhaust-pressure, which form of packing is found to be efficient in this connection. The steam valve-stem L" 'i2 is made sectional to guard against breaking strains occurring about that point.

l provide suitable springs' pp', acting, respectively, against the plug e' and valve and against said valve and thevalve g to aid inrestoring these parts to their seats, although the steam-pressure as a rule is sulcieut to insure a quick return thereof.

The operation of steam-engines of this general type is sulciently well known in the art to render a detailed description thereof unnecessary except in so far as appertains directly to the novel details of construction heretofore described. To start the engine, supposing the cam-pins 7c 7c to be on cams m n, respectively, (the neutral-cams whereby the steam-valve is closed and the cushion-controlling valve is open.) By shifting the shaft D tc the right the piu k rides upon the cam m" ot' one of the sets of cams and the pin Ic rides upon the cam 'n' of the same set of cams. This raises th pin /awhich movement through the stean'i valve-stern i i2 opens the steamfaire z. and admits steam from the steam-chest (t to at least one ot' the cylinders A to start the engine. The same action closes the cushion-controlling valve gin a manner to be described. The rotation of the crank-shaft D through the transmission-gearing E imparts similar motion to .the shaft C, which successively opens the other steam-valves a' and actuat es the cushion-controlling valves of the remainingcylinders,and the enginespeed may be further controlled, as'heretofore stated, by a further lateral movement of said shaft D. The further discription of the niode'of operation Will be con lined to a single cylinder. As the puppet-valve t' is opened against the tension of the spring p steam is admitted to the channel a and thence to the cylinder A. The pressure of the said steam upon the valve serves to prevent leakage at that point. As the steam enters the cylinder the piston G moves forward until it reaches the approximate limit of its direct stroke, when the ports in'the cylinder b, which are normally closed by the guide-truuk of said piston, are opened and the steam in the cylinder is exhausted to an extent to materially reduce the steamcushion resulting from the return stroke of l the said piston and any wateriu the cylinder is blown out of said ports. Upon the return movement of said piston and the continued rotation of the cam-shaft D one of the cams 'n' thereon raises the cam-pin la', which in turn by contact with the arm Z2 of the rockin;r yoke Z rocks said yoke. Vertical movement is thereby'imparted to the cushion '-controlling valve-stem g' through the other arm Z'A of said yoke, which opens the valve g, thus accomplishing the complete exhaustion ot" the steam forming the cushion prior to the admission of more steam to the cylinder. By this arrangement of parts the cylinder-exhaust is accomplished in a manner to minimize the resistance Within each cylinder during the returnstroke, the exhaust through both the main and the cushion-controlling exhaust-ports being against exhauststeam pressure only and an accumulation of water in the cylinder being prevented.

ln setting up the engine the extent of the cushion within the cylinder may be controlled to a'n-icety by regulation, the cams actuatingr the cushion-controlling valve y as the interval of operation of said valve controls said cushion.

The exhauststeam passing through the ports b is discharged directly into the exhauststeam chamber c, which, as heretofore stated, also acts as a mulie. the valve g passes to said exhauststeam chamber through the extension c' thereof, andthe Acontents of said chamber are discharged into the atmosphere through the pipe c2, or, if desired, into a condenser.

If any of the Working parts become partly or wholly inoperative, they may be replaced at snmllexpense by similar parts without affecting the other working part-sof the engine or requiring' any high degreeoi' skill to ell'ect That passing through the change. The various parts are designedly so made that duplicate parts may be so used and appliedwithout necessitating a readjustment of any valve mechanism which -would require the skill of a mechanic or en-v Primarily the engine is designed for use on an autovehicle, and to best serve this purpose it is desirable thatit be so constructed and that the parts be so arranged as to require little or no attention While in use. The engine is therefore so designed as, when ence set up in the shop, to require no further adj ustment,to not become disordered through service except through the inevitable wear, to require no repacking at intervals, and, in fact,reqnire no attention from skilled mechanics or engineers to keep it in condition.

The engine constructed as heretofore described runs smoothly with little Vvibration and under high pressures, is simple in its design, and is composed of parts so arranged as to not be readily susceptible of gettingout of order through use. i

It is not my intention to limit the scope of this patent to the specific design of engine herein shown and described, as it is apparent that such may be modied and yet incorporate therein the essential details of the invention.

4Having described the invention, what vI claim as new, and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, isl 1. In a steam-engine, agrcup of cylinders, an exhaust-steam chamber surrounding all 'said cylinders, said cylinders respectively having a steam-port, a valve therefor, a piston having an elongated trunk, portsin each' cylinder controlled by said piston discharginginto said exhaust-steam chamber, a cushion-controllingr exhaust-port, a valve therefor, and means for actuating said valves respectively.

2. In a steam-engine, agroup of cylinders,- an exhaust-steam chamber surrounding all said cylinders, said cylinders respectively having a steam-port, a-valve therefor, a piston having an elongated trunk, ports in each cylinder controlled hyfsaid piston discharging into said exhaust-steam chamber at a point above the lowerl level of said chamber, a cushion-controlling exhaust-port, a valve therefor, and means for actuating said valves respectively.

3. In a steam-engine, a group of cylinders, an -exhausit-'steam chamber surrounding all said cylinders, said cylinders and said cham'- ber being,r formed in' a single casting, said cylinders respectively having a steam-port, a valve therefor, a piston having an elongated guide-trunk, ports in each cylinder controlled by said piston discharging into said exhauststeam chamber, a cushion controlling exhasst-port, a valve therefor, and means for actuating said valves respectively.

4. In a steam-engine, a group of cylinders, a steam-chest common to all said cylinders,an

exhaust-steam chamber surrounding all said cylinders, said cylinders respectively having a steam-port, a piston having an elongated trunk, ports in each cylinder controlled by said piston discharging into said exhaust-` toward the end of the direct piston-stroke, a

cushion-controlling exhaust-poma valve therefor, ahollow cushion-controlling valvestein journaled inan extension of said cylinder-casting, a sectional steam valve-stem journaled in said first-mentioned stein and concentric therewith, and means for alternately sliding said stems to actuate said' valves.

6. In a' steam-engine, e; cylinder, a piston working therein, -a steam and an exhaust port, a common channel therefor communieating with said cylinder, valves for said ports respectively andV means for alternately opening said valves.

7. in a steam-engine, a cylinder, a piston.

working therein, a steam and an exhaust port in alinement with each other,A a common channel therefor communicating with said cylinder,.valves for said ports respectively, a hollow exhaust valve-stem journaled in anextension of saidl cylndercasting, a steam valve-stem journaled in said hollow stem and concentric therewith and means 'for alternately actuating said stems to open said valves. v

8., In a steam-engine, a cylinder, a piston workingI therein,'a steam and an exhaust port in alinement with each other, acommon'channel therefor communicating with said c 1inder, valves for said ports respectively, a ollow exhaust valve-stem journaled in an extension of said cylinder-casting, a sectional steam valve-stem journaled in said hollow stem and concentric therewith and means for IOO IIO

alternately actuating said stem to open said valves.

9. In a steam-engine, a cylinder, a piston Working` therein, a steam and an exhaust port v in alinement with each other, a common chan;- nel therefor communicating with said cylinder, valves for said ports respectively, a hoilow exhaust valve-stem journaled in an extension of said cylinder casting, a steam valve-stem journaled in said hollow stem and concentric therewith, and means for alternately 'actuating said stem to open said valves comprising a plurality of cams means for actuating said cams, a rocking yoke jourreg naled above said cams, a plurality of pins each adapted to engage one oi said cams, said pins respectively engaging said steam valve-siem and one arm of said rocking yoke, the other arm or said yoke being bifurcated to straddle said steam valve-stem and engage said exhaust valve-stem.

10. In a steam-engine, a cylinder, a piston working therein, a steam and an exhaust port in alinement with each other, a common channel therefor communicating with said cylinder, Valves for said ports respectively, a hollow exhaust Valve-stem journaled in au extension of said cylinder' casting, a steam valve-stem jonrnaled in said hollow stem and concentric therewith, and means for alternately actuating said stems to open said valves comprising aplurality of cams, means for actnatingsaid cams, a casting having parallel vertical bearings ,therein disposed directly above said cams and an odset bearing thereon,a rockingyokejournaled in said offset bearing, a plurality of pins mounted in said vertical bearings each adapted to engage one of said cams, said pins respectively engaging said steam valve-stem and one arm of said rocking yoke, the other arm of said yoke being bifurcated to straddle said steam valve-stem and engage said exhaust Valve-stem, the contact-faces of said yoke-arms being curved.

1l. In a steam-engine, a cylinder, a piston working therein, a steam and an exhaustport in vertical alinement with each other, a common channel therefor communicating with said cylinder, puppet-valves for said ports respectively, a hollow exhaust valve-stem journaled in an extension of said cylindercasting, a steam valve-stem journaled in said hollow stem and concentric therewith and means for alternately raising said stems to open said valves, said exhaust-valve being provided with a dished upper face adjoining said steam valve-stem wherebyawater-paching is provided. f

l2. In a steam-engine, a cylinder, a piston working therein, a steam and an exhaust port in vertical alinement with each other, acommon channel therefor communicating with said cylinder, an exhaust-steam chamber below said channel, puppet-Valves for said ports respectively, a hollow exhaust valve-stem journaled in an extension of said cylindercasting and passed through said exhauststeam chamber, a steam valve-stem journaled in said hollow stem and concentric therewith, and means for alternately raising said stems vto open said valves, said exhaust-valve being provided with a dishedupper face adjoining said steam valve-stem whereby a water-packing is provided and said hollow exhaust valvestem having supplemental exhaust ports therein discharging into said exhaust-steam chamber.

13. In a steam-engine, a cylinder, a piston therefor, a steam and an exhaust port in alinement with each other and opening into a channel communicating with said cylinders, an exhaust-steam chamber below said channel, puppet-valves for said ports respectively, a hollow exhaust valve-stem journaled in an extension of said cylinder-casting and passing through said exhaust-steam cham ber, a steam valve-stem jonrnaled in said hollow stem and concentric therewith and means for alternately sliding said stems to actuate said valves, said hollow exhaust valve-stern having asupplemenial exhaust comprising an interior recess and exhaust-ports therefor discharging `into said exhaust-steam chamber.

I4. In a steam-engine, a cylinder, havinga steam-port, a valve therefor, a piston working in said cylinder, a main exhaust so disposed in said cylinder as to be opened toward the end of the direct piston stroke, a cushioncontrolling exhaust port in alinement with said steamport, a Valve therefor, a hollow exhanstvalve-stem journaled in an extension of said cylinder-casting, a steam valve-stein journaled in said hollow stem and concentric therewith, and means'for alternately raising said stems to open said valves comprising a plurality of cams, means for actuating said cams, a rocking yoke journaled above said cams, a plurality of pins each adapted to engage one of said cams, said pins respectively engaging said steam valve-stern and one arm of said yoke, the other arm ot' said yokebeiug bifurcated to straddle said steam valve-stem and engage said exhaust valve-stein.

l5. In asteam-engiue, a group of cylinders,

an exhaust -steam chamber surrounding all said cylinders, said cylinders and said chainber being formed in a single casting, said cylinders respectively having a steam port, a valve therefor, a piston having an elongated guide-trunk working in said cylinder, ports in each cylinder controlled by said piston discharging into said exhauststeam chamber, a cushion controlling exhaust port in alinementwith said steam port, a valve therefor, a hollow exhaust valve stein journaled in an extension of said cylinder-casting, a steam valve-stem liournaled in said hollow stem and concentric therewith, and means for alternately raising said stems to open said valves comprising a plurality of cams, means for actuating said cams, a rocking yoke journaled above said cams, a plurality of pins each adapted to engage one of said cams, said pins respectively engaging said steam valve stem and one arm of said yoke, the other arm of said yoke being bifurcated to straddle said steam valve-stern and e. single casting, closure-plates for said openings, said cylinders respectively having` a steam port establishing communication between said steam-chest and said channel, a piston having an elongated guide-trunk working therein, ports in each cylinder controlled by said piston discharging into said exhauststeam chamber, a valve for said steam-port, a cushion controlling exhaust-port in alinement with said .steam-port establishing communication between said channel and said exhauststeam -chamber extension, a valve therefor,a hollow cushion-controlling exhaust valve-stem journaled in andpassing through said extension, a steam Valve-stem journaled in said hollowstem and concentric therewith and means for alternately actuating said stems to open said valves. y

17. In a steam-engine,a group of cylinders a steam-chest common to all said cylinders, an exhaust-stean1 chamber surrounding all said cylinders and common thereto having openings on each side thereof opposite each cylinder, an individual extension of said steain-exhaust chamber and an individual channel disposed between said steam-chest and said extension foreach cylinder all made in a single casting, closure-plates for said openings, said cylinders respectively having a steam-port establishing communication hetween said steam-chest and said channel, a piston having au elongatedy guide-trunk working therein, ports in each cylinder controlled by said piston discharging into said exhauststeam chamber,apuppetvalve for said steamport, a cushion-controlling exhaust-port in alinement with said steam-port establishing communication between said channel and said exhaust-steam-chamber extension, a puppet- 'Maese valve therefor, a hollow cushion-controlling exhaust valve-stem journaled in and passing through said extension, a steam valve-stem journaled in said hollow stem and concentric therewith and means for alternately actuating said stems to open said Valves, said cushioncontrolling exhaustvalve-stem being provided with a dished upper race adjoining said steam valve-stern whereby a water-packing is provided and said hollow stem having supplemental exhaustports within said exhauststeam-chamber extension discharging thereinto.

18. In asteam-engine, a cylinder, a piston therefor, a steam and an exhaust port therefor alined with each other, puppet-valves for said ports respectively, a hollow exhaust valve-stem journaled in an'extension of said cylinder-casting, a steam valve-stem jonrnaled in said hollow stem and concentric therewith, and means for alternately sliding said stems to actuate said valves comprising a plurality of cams, means actuating said cams, a rocking yoke journaled above said cams, a plurality of pins each adapted to engage one of said cams, said pins respectively engaging said steam valve-stem and one arm of said rocking yoke, the other arm of said yoke being bifurcated to straddle said steam valvestein and engage said exhaust valve-stem..

In witness whereoil l have hereunto afixed l my signature this 22d day of May, 1903, in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM DIETER Witnesses:

F. T. WENTWORTH, WM. H. BLznN.1 

